chased winner, pushed along over 3f out, edged left and lost 2nd over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression
held up in 4th, lost place over 2f out, well beaten over 1f out
steadied start, held up, raced keenly, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
made all, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and in command from over 1f out, stayed on well
slow to break, held up towards rear, headway 2f out, 3rd final furlong, no impression, kept on
Siskany had been progressing nicely until failing to land the odds up against older horses in a Group 3 at Newbury. Outbox has won at this level but finished behind fourth-placed Tartlette in a similar Listed race last time having also found FOX TAL too good when the latter was beaten less than a length in the Group 3 September Stakes over track and trip. The latter has ran well again subsequently and gets the vote representing last year’s winning yard. Alignak is a Listed winner at Chester and debuts for a new trainer but Garden Paradise and Aced It have plenty to find on these terms.
Outbox 12-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, headed entering final furlong, weakened final 100 yards, 6th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Shandoz (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Aced It (IRE) 9-4fav (9-9) Held up in rear, headway on outside from 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, stayed on, just denied, 2nd of 7, shd behind Naval Commander (9-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
Alignak 12-1 (9-2) Tracked leader until pushed along 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, dist behind Hukum (9-5) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Fox Tal 11-2 (9-2) Keen led after 1f, pushed along carried head high and headed entering final 2f, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Pyledriver (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Siskany 8-15fav (8-12) Raced keenly, held up in close 5th on inside headway far side of group 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 7, 5 1/2l behind Ilaraab (9-4) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Garden Paradise (IRE) Evensfav (9-12) Always prominent, led over 2f out, clear inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Nov beating Crimson King (9-1) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tartlette 40-1 (8-13) Mid division, headway on inner 2f out, soon outpaced but kept on again final 100 yards, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Shandoz (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Pretty Sweet (IRE) (9-10) Chased leader, led over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, hung right 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra final 100yds, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Pallas Dancer (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.